Unsolicited Fee Waivers 2017 Forum

[pretzeltime]

If you're listed as graduating in 2018 I don't see why any school would send fee waivers for the 2016-7 cycle.... I wouldn't stress.

[Alexandros]

I know, (assuming this theory to be true) you are being rewarded by having to pay money for an app (BS), and if you blanket t14 thats a hefty price. It seems like its easier (for schools) to cast a wide net to people to with lower numbers (to increase applicant pool) and reject them quickly (decrease acceptance rate) but this may not work with higher numbers because they want to accept you, but they do not know if you want to accept them, so they have option (A) YP or option (B) have you guys (my brosephs with da high numbers) express actual interest by paying money. In a sick sick way, (which makes me hope I am wrong) in this fashion they offset the costs of being able to decrease acceptance rate by rejecting low numbers by having YOU guys pay money. SO for them its WIN WIN They see it like this maybe:

1. Only the people with high numbers that would consider going to the school would pay the $85
2. They increase applicant pool with lower apps from lower numbers with fee waivers
3. They decrease acceptance rates
4. They offset the cost of 2 and 3 with the money from 1

But why not simply YP the higher numbers? Well they cant do number 4 and I imagine it is (1) less trouble and (2) they stand to be less offensive to the people they actually want (because having to pay $80 hurts less than having been WL + the deterrent effect of having to write a letter to express interest after being YP).


TOTAL SPECULATION AND HIGHLY UNLIKELY BUT FUN TO THINK ABOUT

Ugh, I also hope you're wrong, but that really does make sense. Especially as NYU and CLS don't really do much actual YP-ing at the level of acceptance, so encouraging people with high numbers to apply isn't going to do much for their acceptance rate.

Well so lets turn it into a positive.

If I am correct, then you know that Columbia will be honored when you apply, a great PLUS PLUS if you ACTUALLY want to go, or at least would go given the $$.

If I am wrong, then there has to be an alt. cause as to why YOU didnt get a fee waiver. (perhaps someone dropped the ball somewhere or they didnt even know you existed for some reason). IF this is so, then by applying you put them on notice of who you are - a very strong candidate.


In either case you look favorable to Columbia by fokring out the 85, if you have zero interest in the school then you just saved at least $30!!!!!



It could be worse,

I got a fee waiver....and if I am right...I just paid for a $30 rejection letter with a nice header. (3.95/167/URM hispanic)

That's very true - This is a fantastic position to be in, and the cost of the app fees are less than nothing in the scheme of things. I'm should stop whining.

Best of luck to you! You have very solid numbers - I hope you have an excellent cycle.

[Alexandros]

If you're listed as graduating in 2018 I don't see why any school would send fee waivers for the 2016-7 cycle.... I wouldn't stress.

Aiight. That makes a lot of sense. Hope you're right.

[URM_lawnerd]

I'm surprised that the topic of the CAS Report Fees doesn't come up often. Is it just me or are those fees a real racket? I know there's really no way to get out of them besides getting an LSAC Waiver - which still only entitles you to 4 free reports - but there's gotta be a movement somewhere to get those fees down or eliminate them. I imagine the "Reports" are all handled automatically by a computer and sent to schools electronically, why is there a fee for every school?

It's ridiculous to me.

Alternatively, you could make copies of your LORs/Resume/PS/Optional essays, request multiple copies of your transcripts, and then send them off separately to a certain number of schools that still accept apps the old fashioned way. Even then you risk them not processing your apps in a timely manner out of inconvenience.

Idk know about you but I don't mind paying ~$19 an app to forgo all that hassle. (my undergrad charges $10 a transcript + postage fees)

Lolz Purple Post It Note, CAS Report Fees are a whopping $30 per school this cycle!!! That's why I wrote the original post, because I was reading in various law admissions blogs from just a few cycles ago that the CAS fees were ~$16. I was like WTF, it's nearly doubled in only a few years.

I also don't think it's as easy as making copies of things and sending them to schools, since most Recommenders aren't keen on letting you see their LORs. So you'd have to ask each prof to make copies him/herself and then send to each individual school. LSAC is an unavoidable monopoly right now, no if's, and's, or but's.

[Mr. Freeze]

Duke sent me an email saying they waived the fee for me, but I am below their 25% LSAT and GPA. Are they looking for people to pay sticker?

[goldenbear2020]

Duke sent me an email saying they waived the fee for me, but I am below their 25% LSAT and GPA. Are they looking for people to pay sticker?

For below-25th applicants, they're looking to inflate their applications to drive down their acceptance rate.

[Mr. Freeze]

Duke sent me an email saying they waived the fee for me, but I am below their 25% LSAT and GPA. Are they looking for people to pay sticker?

For below-25th applicants, they're looking to inflate their applications to drive down their acceptance rate.

[Purple Post It Note]

.

[ashrice13]

Just got Berkeley via email

[proteinshake]

unsolicited from Berkley! things are changin'.

[judill]

Just got Berkeley via email

+1

[tskela]

berkeley unsolicited. wuuut

[caitlinrw]

Just received Berkeley

[bleakchimera2]

For those of you who received berk waivers-- mind posting stats? Thank you!!

[blackmamba8]

For those of you who received berk waivers-- mind posting stats? Thank you!!

4.07
163

[poptart123]

Will be applying to Berk now!

[Keilz]

wuuuut berkeley gave them out? I didn't get one I applied last year though

[Notanotherone]

Got one from Berkeley. Super surprised, I thought they were known for never giving out fee waivers, especially unsolicited ones. Also, I'm pretty sure they already get a shit ton of applications and they get to reject a lot of people... why would they care about the numbers? #whoknows
My reference list/stats. 159; 3.75; URM.

Berkeley
Duke
UVA
Columbia
Penn
Cornell
Mich

I have yet to get any from schools I'd be a "shoe-in."

[bleakchimera2]

wuuuut berkeley gave them out? I didn't get one I applied last year though

I haven't gotten one either first time applying. Hopefully they're just doing them in waves.

[tskela]

For those of you who received berk waivers-- mind posting stats? Thank you!!

3.6x
175

[proteinshake]

hopefully Berk will surprise us again with more scholly

[echonov]

.

[TAD]

since I meet their stats.

You do a lil more than that

[hellohalo]

Sent a bunch requests out and got no waivers. All replies are nice and friendly.

NYU--CRS only
BU/Cornell--CRS only, apply need based waiver
Duke--forward it to a senior director
UVA/Gtown---not heard back yet

Not so cool...

Got unsolicited from Columbia/Berk/UPenn/UTAustin/WUSTL/Vandy...
174/international UGPA as B (above average)

Update:
Waiver from UVA.
Duke asked for more background and why duke.

[Blue664]

A couple more data points:

Sent requests to Cornell and NYU (both declined). Cornell pointed me to the online fee waiver policy, and NYU said "CRS only - make sure you are registered."

Oh well, I tried!

ETA: Very friendly decline from Georgetown but they said if I get a new LSAT score I could email them again. I'm not retaking, and I'm already above their 75th though...